Book Review: The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson

My Review:

In this book, I absolutely loved the way the author mixes humor and a fun storyline with more serious issues such as foster care, substance abuse, and complex family dynamics. It is unique in that while nothing is glossed over, and painful subjects are certainly presented in a way that makes it clear they are both hard and messy, they are also handled in a way that doesn’t overpower the story itself. As a result, this story is encouraging, inspiring and so much fun to read. As a foster mom, I particularly appreciated the way the author presented both the hard and good sides of foster care, and found this aspect of the story particularly realistic.

This story of Cassie and Jeff, and how they find themselves simultaneously drawn to each other and also in a place of advocacy for kids in need is definitely worth reading!

About the Book

Book: The Dating Charade

Author: Melissa Ferguson

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction, Romantic Comedy

Release Date: December 3, 2019

Cassie Everson is an expert at escaping bad first dates. And, after years of meeting, greeting, and running from the men who try to woo her, Cassie is almost ready to retire her hopes for a husband—and children—altogether.

But fate has other plans, and Cassie’s online dating profile catches the eye of firefighter Jett Bentley. In Jett’s memory, Cassie Everson is the unreachable girl-of-legend from their high school days. Nervously, he messages her, setting off a chain of events that forces a reluctant Cassie back into the dating game.

No one is more surprised than Cassie when her first date with Jett is a knockout. But when they both go home and find three children dropped in their laps—each—they independently decide to do the right and mature thing: hide the kids from each other while sorting it all out. What could go wrong?

Melissa Ferguson’s hilarious and warmhearted debut reminds us that love can come in very small packages—and that sometimes our best-laid plans aren’t nearly as rewarding and fun as the surprises that come our way.

About the Author

Melissa Ferguson lives in Bristol, Tennessee, where she is an adjunct professor at King University and pens books that make her laugh and grow. She used to have hobbies like running and backpacking the Appalachian Trail outside her door. Now she and her husband are outnumbered, and her hobbies include diaper changes, chasing toddlers in parking lots, and admiring the Appalachian Trail out her minivan window while singing “Winnie the Pooh.” She survives by Jesus, rom coms, and roughly two espresso shots a day. The Dating Charade is her first novel.